Pata Honda’s Jonathan Rea will start tomorrow’s two fourth-round World Superbike championship races at Monza in Italy from the second row of the grid after setting the fourth fastest time in today’s Superpole session.

With seconds remaining in the final Superpole eliminator, it looked like a front row start for the 26-year-old from Northern Ireland. However, Rea was relegated to a starting position directly behind pole sitter Kawasaki's Tom Sykes. The Isle of Man resident was pushed off the front row after a last lap dash from Aprilia’s Sylvain Guintoli, which placed the Frenchman in third, leaving Rea fighting for a podium from fourth on the grid.

“A part of me is a little bit disappointed because for so long, I think until the last second, I was on the front row. But we’ve got to be happy, looking at our strengths and weaknesses, because it was never going to be a really strong circuit for us. I’m happy to be fighting, anyway,” said Rea.

“I had a small crash in free practice and knocked a little bit of my confidence in sector three where I was already strong. I regained that in Superpole so hopefully, with some rhythm tomorrow, I can get away with the front guys and be in the group.

“We’ll see what happens and we’ve still got some areas we can work on, namely engine brake and how to stabilise the bike a little more into the corners. It’s going to be two long races, but we’re happy to race.”